Microgravity in Biotechnology

The International Space Station (ISS) serves as a unique laboratory due to microgravity, a near-zero gravity environment. Research on the ISS has led to breakthroughs in tissue engineering, where cartilage tissue grown in microgravity displays superior qualities, offering potential treatments for degenerative conditions. Microgravity also aids in protein crystallography, facilitating the development of drugs like TAS-205 to combat diseases like Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Moreover, microgravity enables the development of drug delivery systems, such as picoparticles, for diseases like Alzheimer’s. Despite the planned decommissioning of the ISS in 2031, the future of microgravity research remains promising with the rise of commercial space exploration.